Your child had surgery to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a condition that causes food or liquid to come up from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach).
Your child’s surgeon wrapped the upper part of your child’s stomach around the end of the child's esophagus.
The surgery was done in one of these ways:
Your child may also have had a plyoroplasty procedure to widen the opening between the stomach and small intestine. The doctor may also place a g-tube (gastrostomy tube) in the child's belly.
Most children can go back to school or daycare as soon as they feel well enough.
Your child may have a feeling of tightness when they swallow for 6 - 8 weeks. This is from the swelling inside the child's esophagus. Your child may also have some bloating.
Recovery is faster from laparoscopic surgery than from open surgery.
You will need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your child’s primary care provider or gastroenterologist for about a week after the surgery.
After your child goes home, you will slowly get the child back to a regular diet.
If your child had a g-tube (gastrostomy tube) placed during surgery, it can be used for feeding and venting. Venting is when the g- tube is opened to release air from the stomach, similar to burping.
For pain, you can give your child over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If your child is still having pain, call your child’s doctor.
If sutures (stitches), staples, or glue were used to close your child’s skin:
If tape strips (Steri-Strips) were used to close your child’s skin:
Do not allow your child to soak in a bathtub or hot tub or go swimming until your child’s doctor tells you it is okay.
Call your child’s doctor or nurse if your child has:
Fundoplication - children - discharge; Nissen fundoplication - children - discharge; Belsey (Mark IV) fundoplication - children - discharge; Toupet fundoplication - children - discharge; Thal fundoplication - children - discharge; Hiatal hernia repair - children - discharge; Endoluminal fundoplication - children - discharge
Orenstein S, Peters J, Khan S, Youssef N, Hussain SZ. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 320.
Kahrilas PJ, Shaheen NJ, Vaezi MF, Hiltz SW, Black E, Modlin IM. American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement on the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastroenterology. 2008;135:1383-1391.
International Pediatric Endosurgery Group (IPEG). IPEG guidelines for the surgical treatment of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2009 Apr;19 Suppl 1:x-xiii.
Updated by: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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